Barack Obama said he married his 'cute' wife Michelle to improve his 'gene pool' as the President continued a three-day trip of North Carolina and Virginia.
The couple stopped off on Thursday to buy pumpkins from a roadside farmers market along the way and loaded them onto Mr Obama's taxpayer-funded tour bus to take back to Washington.
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| 'Tis the season: President Obama pulls a cart full of pumpkin he bought at a pumpkinpatch while First Lady Michelle carries two in Hampton, Virginia, today |
The White House was forced to defend the use of the vehicle, and other costs incurred by the government, after commentators suggested the President's rhetoric on the tour struck as the start of a re-election campaign.
Costs for air travel, hall rental and lodgings for staff could run into the tens of thousands but the administration reiterated Mr Obama was on official duty to promote his jobs bill.
Joining her husband at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, Mrs Obama announced a new private sector commitment to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013.
After the First Lady's introduction, the President went on an impromtu appraisal of his wife's looks.
Speaking to crowd of uniformed military personnel, Mr Obama confessed: 'I hate following Michelle. She's so good.'
'See for you men out there who are not yet married, let me explain. The whole goal is to marry up - to try to improve your gene pool,' he added, to the laughter of those in attendance.
Praising his wife's role to 'support and honour our military families,' the President said, 'she does all this and she looks cute.'
The jovial mood continued as the Obamas pulled over at a roadside farmer's market in Hampton and shopped for seasonal offerings.
Mrs Obama lifted a huge white pumpkin on to a metal cart, which the Wood's Orchard owner estimated weighed 70 pounds, CBS reported.
The pumpkins will be displayed at the door to the White House after travelling with the Obamas in the tour bus the media have dubbed 'Ground Force One.'
The multi-million pound vehicle is just one of the costs that some critics have argued should not be at taxpayer expense.
© Daily Mail, London |
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